Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has described the success of his V9 academy as one of the highlights of his career.

The England striker set up the academy to help get non-league players into the professional game - in the same way he moved from lowly Stocksbridge Steels to become a Premier League winner and international footballer.

Vardy's V9 academy took 42 players to a week-long camp in Manchester that ended with trial games in front of scouts from a host of clubs.

Striker Danny Newton, who was working in a factory on the Meridian Business Park, was the first to be signed up, with the 26-year-old from Countesthorpe joining Stevenage.

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"I'm now hopeful that some of the clubs, scouts and players that were sceptical about what we set out to do are won over, not only by what we delivered for the players during the week itself, but the success stories that have followed.

"To see Lemar Reynolds jump four levels to League Two, Blair get another opportunity despite his recent setbacks and Danny at a similar age to myself get a crack at the pro game - it's amazing," said Vardy.

"It's definitely a career highlight for me, that I've been able to help these guys, maybe inspire them a bit."